Athletes at Duke University see competitive advantage with laser therapy By Kerry Mullenix, PT, SCS, LAT, ATC, Robert ‘Hap’ Zarzour, MA, LAT, ATC, and Jose Fonseca, MS, LAT, ATC inning in athletic medicine requires many of the same core concepts as winning in collegiate competition. Commitment, preparation, focus, and execution are just a handful of common terms you’ll hear. Additionally, the programs that are typically successful are innovative, willing to assess and accept progressive change, and work together as a team when it matters most. Care Collaboration Injuries are part of athletics, and every program is sure to face them. At Duke University, we strive to provide the best in diagnostic care and treatment of our student-athletes. Starting with injury prevention and sports performance, we collaborate as a team to minimize movement-related injuries. Athletes are assessed to determine range Inset photo: Jose Fonseca, ‘Hap’ Zarzour, and Kerry Mullenix are charged with keeping students at Duke University healthy and on the field. They’ve found deep-tissue laser therapy a worthwhile addition to their rehab protocols. ADVANCE for Physical Therapy & Rehab Medicine of motion, strength, and movement patterns. Profiles are created and comprehensive intervention programs are designed specifically for the athletes based on these findings. We believe this team effort and personalized approach provides an edge for our athletes as we strive to keep everyone healthy and performing at their best. When evaluating and implementing new treatment methodologies, we’re looking for that same edge or advantage over current conventional approaches. We regularly examine and consider many new products and techniques and attempt to quantify their efficacy through data, literature and clinical experience and outcomes. We strive for innovation but are guarded against fads that don’t have merit. When we come across something that truly makes a difference, we look to maximize the benefits and incorporate it as part of our arsenal to minimize injuries and speed recovery when injuries do occur. Deep-tissue laser therapy is one technology that has exceeded expectations and given our team a valuable modality we can count on for treating the wide range of musculoskeletal conditions we encounter. We investigated laser therapy for the f irst time 8-9 years ago. There was not a lot of literature available on the modality at the time. While consulting with our colleagues, we heard mixed reviews. After an initial evaluation, we determined that the current technology did not meet our needs. When high-powered lasers started to gain momentum in the marketplace, we were persuaded to take a look at the new technology. After a short time, it was apparent that this was truly a different type of laser. We saw better results on a more consistent basis. Our experiences — and those of trusted www.advanceweb.com/pt

colleagues — led us to the conclusion that results and outcomes were directly related to dosing parameters. Delivering enough energy to the area was important. Higher power allowed us to deliver the energy effectively and efficiently. With higher power, players feel something happening. It’s like the cells are getting excited; they feel warmth. There is a much better interaction with the tissue, and benefits are felt immediately. Making the switch to a higher-power laser provided us with “wins” we can count on. It’s helping us reduce inflammation, increase range of motion, accomplish more with...